Mumbai: Fake Rs 500 currency notes found in the cash deposit machine

Mumbai police are investigating a case involving counterfeit Rs 500 currency notes discovered at an HDFC Bank branch in Khar West. The fake notes were detected in the bank’s cash deposit machine, prompting officials to lodge a complaint with the Khar police.

The incident took place on June 6, when an unidentified person deposited cash into the machine. Bank staff later found five fake R500 notes, triggering a mandatory police complaint under RBI guidelines.

“The complainant, a bank employee, noticed the fake notes during routine inspection. The cash deposit machine is equipped with a feature that detects counterfeit currency and redirects it to a separate ‘fake note box’,” said a police officer.

HDFC Bank branch in Khar West. Pic/By Special Arrangement

An internal probe revealed that the notes were deposited into an account under the name Saba Hasan Shaikh. While the total deposit amount is still unknown, the presence of five forged notes in a single deposit triggered the mandatory filing of an FIR.

FIR registered

The fake notes were discovered on June 6. The bank informed police on June 9 and submitted a formal written complaint on June 11. The FIR was registered on June 26 against an unknown person under Section 179 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

“We’re reviewing CCTV footage, including visuals from the camera installed inside the cash deposit machine. The alleged accused has been captured on video. We will be calling the account holder for questioning,” said a police officer from Khar police station.

How machines catch fakes

Cash can be deposited using either a debit card or an account number. While machines may temporarily accept a fake note, advanced detection systems eventually divert it into a counterfeit compartment without crediting the amount.

“The machine accepted the notes initially but identified them as fake and stored them separately. This internal mechanism helped us detect the fraud,” the officer explained.

HDFC bank speaks

Mukesh Bhatia, branch manager of HDFC bank, told mid-day: “We acted swiftly and informed the police, who have taken over the investigation. All protocols have been followed.” “The counterfeit notes were stamped, forged notes impounded by the bank and seized as evidence,” he added.

Correct Features of Rs 500 note

Front of the note
1. See-through register with the denominational numeral 500.
2. Latent image with the denominational numeral 500.
3. Denominational numeral 500 in Devanagari script.
4. Portrait of Mahatma Gandhi at the centre.
5. Micro letters ‘Bharat’ and ‘India’.
6. Colour-shifting windowed security thread with the inscription ‘Bharat’ and ‘RBI’. The thread changes colour from green to blue when the note is tilted.
7. Guarantee clause, Governor’s signature with the promise clause, and the RBI emblem to the right of Mahatma Gandhi’s portrait.
8. Mahatma Gandhi portrait and electrotype (500) watermarks.
9. Number panel with numerals in ascending font on the top left and bottom right sides.
10. Denominational numeral R500 in colour-changing ink (green to blue) on the bottom right.
11. Ashoka Pillar emblem on the right.
12. Intaglio or raised printing of Mahatma Gandhi’s portrait, Ashoka Pillar emblem, circular identification mark with microtext R500, and five angular bleed lines on both the left and right sides.

Reverse (back of the note)
13. Year of printing on the left.
14. Swachh Bharat logo with the slogan.
15. Language panel.
16. Motif of Red Fort.
17. Denominational numeral 500 in Devanagari script.

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